miles to go

I got this tattoo so that I’ll always be reminded to never give up. I was going through a pretty rough time and felt like I needed something to ground me, to console me, to keep me sane. I have always been the glue holding my dysfunctional family together and after my older brother attempted to commit suicide, I completely broke down. I didn’t understand why, at such a young age, my family felt the need to let me carry so much responsibility. I was angry and terrified and distraught and hurt. I had thought about ending my own life on many occasions but I knew I could never bring that pain to my family and therefore, even that option was taken away from me. So with this tattoo, I began to heal and eventually its meaning crept onto every aspect of the way I live my life. The woods symbolize an easy way out, a short cut, a cowardly release. My promises will always keep me moving forward and pushing on because there’s many miles, or at least a very very long time, before I ever plan to give up. And If I ever feel myself bowing my head in anything other than respect, I can see my tattoo on the top of my foot, telling me to keep going.

Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.